Obama visits Letterman's 'Late Show' for the potato?

David Letterman motions towards White House press photographers taking pictures of his interview with President Barack Obama during a break at a taping of CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman." (Sept. 21, 2009)
Photo Credit: AP

A final viewing was not available by deadline - this story was based on an Associated Press dispatch and a CBS clip posted on the Internet early in the evening - but it's safe to say this was not a mud wrestle.

Still, why do this, Letterman wondered? Maybe President Barack Obama said yes without giving it any consideration: "Like Bush did with Iraq." Obama explained he came by because of the aforementioned potato, given to Dave by an audience member. "The main reason I'm here? I want to see that heart-shaped potato."

Letterman got in a question about the recent Joe Wilson heckling and whether the whole incident was somehow racist, as Jimmy Carter said: "Well," said Obama, "first of all, I think it's important to realize I was actually black before the election," Obama said to huge laughs from Letterman and the audience. "So the American people gave me this extraordinary honor and that tells you a lot about where the country's at."

The president said the incident likely had more to do with the climate of the nation in general. "Whenever a president tries to bring about significant change, particularly during times of economic unease, there's a certain segment of the population that gets riled up."